Vehicle body with packer and ejector



ocr. 2o, 1959 q. F. wam

VEHICLE BODY WITH PCKER AND EJECTOR Filed Oct. 20, 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet l oa. 2o, 1959 J. F. WEIR VEHICLE BODY WITH PACKER AND EJECTOR 4 sheets-sheet 2 v Filed oct. 2G. 1955 IN VEN TOR.

. Janis/r Wf//e A TTRNE Y Oct. 20, 1959 J. F. wEl-R VEHICLE BODY WITH PACKER AND EJEcToR Filed 001'.. 20. 1955 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 bi Si l .A rraeNe-Y J. F. wam 2,909,295v d 4 Sheets-She'et 4 JMe-s F. VVE/e BY AM, /v-M'-uf Arran/vars Oct. 20, y1959 VEHICLE BODY WITH PACKER AND EJEc'rR Filedbct. 20. 1955 2,909,295 Y VEHICLE BODY WITH PACKER AND EJE'oToR `Tames F. Weir, New Holstein, Wis., assignor to M-B Corporation, New Holstein, Wis., a corporation of Wisconsin Application October 20, 1955, Serial No. 541,644 1'1 Claims. (Cl. 214 82) i body with packer Vto and from a position forwardly of the work-receiving doors. Cables provided with spring takeups on the plate are driven by drums at the forward end of the body and guided over pulleys to propel the plate forwardly and rearwardly in the course of rotation of the vdrum shaft. The drive to the drum shaft from the power takeoff of the vehicle upon which the body is mounted" includes a reversing gear set and a drive to the drum shaft through an electric clutch which functions as a torquelimiting slip clutch in addition to providing safety interlock controls, clutch energization being dependent upon circuits controlled by the respective loading doors and by limit switches which are operated at the extremes of movement of the packer plate. The arrangement is such that with either of the loading doors open the clutch is deenergized and the clutch is also deenergized whenever the'packer plate reaches either extreme of its movement. 'If'the resistance of the packed material precludes further movement of the packer plate in a rearward direction, the clutch will slip ata torque which can be adjusted by varying the current applied thereto.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, there yis a further electrical interlock which secures the loading doors against being opened at any time when the packer plate is in operation in either direction. In order to permit the packer plate to be started in a reverse direction after having reached. either extreme of its movement and opened one of the limit switches, there is a special double throw switch at the power `takeoff which is reversibly connected with the gear `set in such a way that manipulation of the reverser will change ,the direction of packer plate movement and will also close the circuit through the Aclutch limit switch thatbecomes effective only when the packer `plate reaches the other end of the body. The actual location of the vlimit switches is desirably close to the drums by which `the packer plate is operated. YThe limit switches may either be actuated directly from one of, these drums or from a separate shaft connectedfwith the drum shaft.

In the drawings: Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic view in longitudinal section through an installation embodying the invention, portions of the vehicle being omitted.

Fig. 2 is a diagrammatic view in horizontal section through the body and portions of the vehicle chassis.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary detail view in side elevation of a forward end portion of a truck body embodying the invention.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detailview taken in section on the line 4 4 of Fig. 3. v

2,909,295 `Patented Oct. `20, 1959 Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken in section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken in section on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. f

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary detail view of one of the drums by which the packer plate is operated.

Fig. 8 is a view taken in section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7, portions of the drum being broken away.

Fig. 9 is a circuit diagram showing the control of the velectric clutch by which the packer plate is operated.

Fig; 10 is a detail view in side elevation of the reversing switch, the operating shaft and casing being shown in section. l

Fig. 11 is -a fragmentary plan viewsimilar to Fig. 7 showing a slightly modified limit switch drive.

Fig. 12 is a view on an enlarged scale taken in section yon Vthe line 12 12 of Fig. 11.

' Fig. 13 is a View similar to Fig. 3 showing a modified embodiment.

Fig. 14 is a View similar to Fig. 9 showing the circuit usedV with the embodiment of Fig. 13.

Fig. l5 is a diagrammatic view of the -body and operating parts as these appear in perspective, the outline offthe body being indicated in broken lines and only portions thereof being shown.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged detail view taken in section through the electric slip clutch which adheres to the drive in the packer plate.

Fig. 17 is a fragmentary detail view taken in section on the line 17 17 of Fig. 3.

The truck chassis is generally conventional. The motor is diagrammatically shown at 20 and the frame at 21. There is the usual gear box or transmission at 22 controlled by shift lever 23 and clutch pedal 24 for the transmission of power to the rear wheels 2S of the vehicle.

As is common in such chassis, there is a power takeoff from the transmission 22. The power takeoff itself is not shown, but there is illustrated in Figs. 1, 2 and 15 the reverser'25 which contains the usual reversing gear set and clutch (not shown) operated by hand lever 27 which connects with the arms 28 of rock shaft 26. By manipulation of lever 27, the direction 4of rotation of the output shaft 29 can be reversed at the will of the operator.

The power takeoff output shaft 29 drives the sprocket 30 through electric clutch mechanism shown in Fig. 16.

The sprocket is mounted on the hub portion 31 of the v driven clutch element 32. The forward side of the annular clutch element 32 has a shallow channel within which the clutch facing 33 is disposed. The rear side of the annular clutch element 32 is channeled to receive the stationary electromagnetic winding 34, the mounting 35 of which is supported at 36 from the vehicle frame 21. The driving clutch element 37 constiutes an armature connected to element 32 when the winding 34 is energized and released from driving engagement when the winding 34 is deenergized. The driving clutch element 37 has its hub 38 splined to the power takeoff shaft 29 toreceive motion through the reverser 25 from the power takeoff with which transmission 22 is provided. When the electric clutch is energized, motion will be transmittedfrom sprocket 30 by means of chain 39 and sprocket wheel 40 to a gear reducer 41 which actuates the drum shaft 42. The drum shaft extends transversely of the front end of the body hereinafter to be described and carries three separate helically grooved drums at 43, 44, 4S, respectively.

The body, generically designated by reference character 50, comprises a door 51, a top 52, side walls 53 and 54 and a rear closure which comprises doors 55 and 56 hinged at 57 to the side walls. The -body requires no front closure but a partial closure is illustrated at ss, Fig. 2.

The packer plate 60 is reciprocable longitudinally of the body desirably being disposed in a generally upright position. As illustrated, it has a slight inclination with the top end being somewhat nearer the front of the Vehicle than is 4its bottom. Guides are provided for the packer plate, which is movable longitudinally of the body. These guides may conveniently comprise rails made of angle iron. Two such rails are mounted at 61 and 62 on the top wall 52 of the body. Parallel rails 63, 64 extend along the bottom 51. The packer plate 60 is provided with notches complementary to the rails to receive guidance therefrom in the course of its longitudinal reciprocation.

An operating cable 65 has an anchorage at 66 bearing on a compression spring 67 seated on the flange 68 at the rear of the packer plate. Cable 65 passes around a pulley 69 in the bottom of the packer plate and thence along the body bottom 51 to the top periphery ofdrum 43. As already stated, this drum is helically grooved. The cable passes one or more times about `the helical grooves of drum 43 and is connected to the end thereof. A complementary cable 650 attached to the opposite end of the drum and passing one or more times about the helical grooves` therein issues from the bottom of the drum to pass beneath the body bottom 51 to a sheave 70 mounted in a notch 71 near the rear door 56. After passing about sheave 70, the cable 650 extends along the surface of the body bottom and through a notch 71 in the packer plate 60. Here it passes about a p ulley 72 mounted on the packer plate and upwardly along the front side of the packer plate to an `anchorage 73 engaging another compression spring 74 seated on flange 68. The arrangement is such that the compression springs 67 and 74 take all slack from cables 65 and 650 to maintain them taut in both directions. This arrangement ensures that the bottom portion of the packer plate to which pulleys 69 and 72 are attached will move forward `or rearwardly according to the direction of rotation of the drum 43.

A similar arrangement is provided at the opposite side of the body where cable 75 is wrapped around a drum 45 and passes over pulley 76 to anchorage 79 on compression spring 80 which is supported on flange 68. The complementary cable 750, likewise anchored to the drum and having one or more turns about the helical grooves thereof passes beneath the floor of the body to the pulley 77 at the rear thereof and thence back along the top surface of the body floor to the pulley 78 carried by the lower margin of the packer plate. Thence cable 750 extends upwardly through flange 68 to an anchor-age at 81 on the top of compression spring 82 supported by such flange. Since drum 43 and drum 45 are mounted on the same shaft 42, the cables 75 and 750 constrain the lower portion of packer plate 60 on which pulleys 76 and 78 are mounted `to move forwardly and rearwardly at the same rate as the other side of the packer plate and according to the direction of rotation of the shaft 42 `and respective drums 43 and 45.

The top of the packer plate `is correspondingly operated by the cables 85 and 850 which are terminally wrapped around drum 44. The two runs of cable pass from the drum about guide sheaves S6 and 87 `at thc top of the body. Thence cable 85 passes over the packer plate to a sheave 88 at the rear of the body and returns over pulley 89 on the packer plate to anchorage 90 supported by compression spring 91 beneath flange 68. The other run of cable 850 extends from sheave 87 directly to the pulley 93 on the packer plate and down through the flange 63 to an anchorage 94 beneath the compression spring 95 which is seated on the lower side of the flange. Thus `all portions of the packer plate are required to move in unison according to the directionof rotation of shaft 42, whereby the packer plate s maintained substantially at a fixed and generally upright Vangle regardless of its position in the body.

'The body is provided at its forward end with loading doors 100, 101, respectively, slidable along the body walls 53 and 54 to open and close openings through which garbage or other material is introduced -into the body.

Fig. 3 shows a detail side elevation of the reenforced construction of wall 54 with the upper rails 102 and 102 and the lower rail 103 upon which the door rollers 104 are guided for movement longitudinally of the body. As clearly appears in Figs. 3 and 5, the forward ends of the respective rails are all curved inwardly so that the door 101, when closed, seats against the reenforcing angles 98 and 99 of the body. A manually operable latch 105 .is pivoted to the door and normally engages over a bolt 106 pivot-ally mounted on ears 107 of the body.

In order to protect the operators by insuring that the packer plate will not be moved with the doors open, each door is provided with a safety switch in series with the clutch winding magnet to require that the doors be shut before-,the clutch can be energized. One way of accomplishingthis result is to actuate the required switches by means .of the locking arm 106 which can be moved to positions shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 6 only when the door larm 106 is mounted for oscillation in the ears 107, I

may provide a camsuch as that shown at 108 in Fig. Vl7. 'This engages `the cam follower roller 108 at the end of the actuator arm 109 of the normally open switch l110 to close the switch only when the door locking parts are'in the position illustrated in Fig. 6 and Fig. 17. Any ,displacement of the locking arm 106 from locked position will allow switch 110 to open. A similar switch 111, likewise in series with switch 110 and the clutch `Wlinding34, `is indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 14 and is closed only when the door at the opposite side of the body is closed.

The limit switches 112, 113 are normally closed and are in parallel with each other and in series with the switches 110 and 111 and the clutch winding 34. The limit switches are arranged to be opened at the extremes of packer plate movement. One way of accomplishing this is shown in Fig. 7 where the limit switches 112 and 113 have their actuators 114, 115 disposed in the path of movement of bolts 116, 117 which are adjustable in the arms 118, 119. These arms support a wheel 120 that operates in the grooves of drum 45 between the mns of cable 85. As the drum rotates to pay out one of the runs of cable 85 and to wind the other, the wheel 120 moves .axially of the drum, carrying with it the rock shaft 121 upon which the arms 118 and 119 are mounted. The rock shaft 121 slides axially in its bearings at 122, 123 until one or the other of the bolts engages one or the other of the switch actuators to open the switch controlled by such actuator. A tension spring at 124 holds the arms in .positions in which the wheel 120 is securely engaged in the groove of drum 45.

In the alternate arrangement shown in Figs. ll and l2, the drum shaft 42 is connected by chain 125 and sprocket 126 with a screw shaft 127 upon which a nut 128 is fed ,in one direction or the other according to the rotation of the shaft. The arm 129 carried by nut 128 engages the limit switch actuators 114, 115 and the two extremes of packer plate movement to open switches 112 Vor 113 as the case may be and to deenergize clutch armature 34 in either instance.

The two limit switches 112 and 113 are not simultaneously in circuit between the battery 130 and the clutch Ywinding 34. They are in parallel with each other (see Figs. 9 and 14) and are alternatively connected in circuit with the door switches and the clutch winding 34 by means of a double pole, double throw switch 132 (see Figs. 1 and 2) which has its actuating arm 133 lc. nnected by link 134 with the lever 28 of the power takeoff reverser 25. Y

Fig. shows a preferred mechanical structure for :the switch 132. The arm 133 operates a rock shaft 135 on which there is a disk 136 provided with a cam groove i137. The line 138 from battery 130 is connected to the '-iixed contacts 139 and 140. The fixed contacts 141 and .-142 are connected to the respective limit switches 112 4'and 113 by conductors 144 and 145. The movable conftacts 146 and 147 are carried by an insulated bar 148 'mounted on a rod 149 which has a cam follower 136 engaged in the -track 137 to be advanced or retracted in 'the oscillation of disk 136 by arm 133. Fig. 10 shows the acuator in an intermediate position. If moved to the left, the circuit will be closed between fixed contacts 140 and 141 to energize limit switch 112. Moved 'to the right, the movable contactor 147 will close the circuit between fixed contacts 139 and 142 to energize limit switch 113. Thus, as the reversing gear is shifted to condition the drum shaft for moving'the packer plate reversely away from the position at which it has come to rest, the reversing switch 132 bypasses the limit switch that has brought the packer plate to rest and establishes a circuit to the clutch armature through the limit switch that will be opened as the packer plate reaches the exftreme of its reverse movement.

As shown in Fig. 10, the cam track 137 has an intermediate dwell which maintains the switch 132 in a centered open position whenever the power takeoff clutch is in neutral. In this position, the packer plate is at rest both b-y reason of the neutral position of the reversing gears and also because the electric clutch winding 34 is deenergized. Only with the packer plate at rest is it safe to open the loading doors 100 and 101.

These doors may be provided with electromagnetically operated latches 150 which are pivoted at 151 to the body as exemplified in Fig. 13 and are normally held by their springs 152 in retracted positions in which the latch element does not engage the keeper 153 mounted on the door. vThe solenoid 154 attracts the latch of each of the loading doors to engage the respective keeper on the door whenever the clutch winding 34 is energized. Asshown in Fig. 14, the solenoids 154 may -be in parallel with the winding 34 for this purpose. the clutch winding is deenergized, as in .the neutral positionof the controls shown in Fig. 10, it is possible for the door to be opened. While fthis feature is optional, it is regarded as desirable. Even though the opening of a `loading door deenergizes the clutch winding by opening one of the normally closed switches 110 or 111, some continuing movement of the packer plate by its momentum might be possible. Accordingly, it is preferred to require the operator to disconnect the clutch winding and disengage the driving gears as a prerequisite to the opening of the door, this being accomplished by a latch of the type of that shown in Fig. 13.

As will be understood, refuse or other material to be transported is inserted into the body by opening one of the doors 101 at a time when the packer plate is at its forward extreme of movement. Thereupon the doors are closed and the operator moves the clutch to position the power takeoff for rearward movement of the packer plate. Simultaneously, the electric clutch armature is energized through the limit switch 113, assuming this to be the limi-t switch that opens4 at the rearmost position of the packer plate.

The rearward movement of the packer plate compresses the contents of the body either against the rear doors or against previously compressed material. Assuming that there is material behind the packer plate to be compressed in its rearward movement, the limit switch 113 will never open. Instead, the electric clutch will slip at a predetermined value of pressure exerted by the plate upon 'the contents of the body. It is then incumbent on the operator to reverse the power takeoff clutch and to reenergize the electric clutch winding through the normally closed limit switch 112, which can be opened only when the packer plate reaches its extreme forward position, ahead of the loading doors. In this position of the plate, the electric clutch will be deenergized and the packer plate movement will be arrested even if the power takeoff clutch remains engaged. Even if the magnetic latch shown in Fig. 13 is employed, the doors may now be opened, since the functioning of the limit switch has deenergized the solenoids 154 along with the winding 34 of the electric clutch. This permits further material to be introduced into fthe body for repetition of the cycle as above described.

When the body is fully loaded, its discharge doors 55, 56 at the rear may be opened, in which event the rearward movement of lthe packer plate will eject the contents of the body.

I claim:

1. The combination with a vehicle body having a door and a packer plate therein, of means for actuating said pla-te including an electrically operable clutch and a clutch circuit including means to de-energize and energize the clutch, in combination with an electromagnetically operable latch for said door, and means for closing and opening said latch as the electric clutch is respectively energized and deenergized.

2. In a vehicle having an engine provided with driving connections and with a power takeoff, the combination with said power takeoff, of a manually operable reverser,

a vehicle body provided with a reciprocable packer plate having driving connections from said reverser including 1 an electromagnetic clutch having a winding, a pair of Only when limit switches in parallel with each other in series with said winding, and a double throw switch connected with said reverser for manual operation concurrently therewith, said switch having connections for closing the circuit through one of said limit `switches in one reverser position and for closing the circuit to the other of sai limit switches in the other reverser position.

3. The device of claim 2 in which the driving connections to the packer plate include a drum shaft, drums mounted thereon, cables operating over the drums and connected with the plate, and a limit switch actuator having driving connections from the drum shaft.

4. In a vehicle having an engine provided with driving connections and with a power takeoff, the combination with said power takeoff, of a manually operable reverser, a vehicle body provided with a reciprocable packer plate having driving connections from said reverser including an electromagnetic clutch having a winding, a pair of limit switches in parallel with each other in series with said winding, and a double throw switch connected with said reverser for manual operation concurrently therewith, said switch having connections for closing the circuit through one of said limit switches in one reverser position and for closing the circuit to the other of said limit switches in the other reverser position, one of the drums on the drum shaft being provided with a cablereceiving helical groove, a limit switch actuator including a follower operating in said groove for moving said actuator in a direction parallel to the drum shaft axis.

5. In a vehicle having an engine provided with driving connections and with a power takeoff, the combination with said power takeoff, of a manually operable reverser, i

a vehicle body provided with a reciprocable packer plate having driving connections from said reverser including an electromagnetic clutch having a winding, a pair of limit switches in parallel with each other in series with said winding, and a double throw switch connected with said reverser for manual operation concurrently therewith, said switch having connections for closing the circuit through one of said limit switches in one reverser` position and for closing the circuit to the other of said,

limit switches in the other reverser position, in further lcombination with an actuator for the limit switches including a screw shaft having driving connections from the drum shaft, and a nut operable along the screw shaft and provided with an arm in the path of which said limit switches are disposed.

6. The combination with a vehicle body having a packer plate reciprocable therein, of a vehicle transmission provided with a power takeoff having manually operable reverser, driving connections from the reverser to the packer plate including an electric clutch having a winding, limit switches having contact operators, means movable with the plate between said operators for the opening of the respective limit switches in predetermined positions of the plate, and a reversing switch connected with the reverser and movable between two extreme positions in the reversing movement of the reverser, the said limit switches being operatively connected in parallel with each other and in series with said winding for the energization of the winding, and a source of power selectively connected through the reversing switch with one of the limit switches according to the position of the reversing switch whereby to energize the winding through one of the limit switches, the connections being such that the winding is always energized by the limit switch which is -to be opened at the predetermined position toward which the packer plate is being moved through the electric clutch by said reducer.

7. The combination with a vehicle body having a packer plate reciprocable therein, of a vehicle transmission provided with a power takeoff having manually operable reverser, driving connections from the reverser to the packer plate including an electric clutch having a winding, limit switches having contact operators, means movable with the plate between said operators for the opening of the respective limit switches in predetermined positions of the plate, and a reversing switch connected with the reverser and movable between two extreme positions in the reversing movement of the reverser, the said limit switches being operatively connected in parallel with each other and in series with said winding for the energization of the winding, and a source of power selectively connected through the reversing switch with one of the limit switches according to the position of the reversing switch whereby to energize the winding through one of the limit switches, the connections being such that the winding is always energized by the limit switch which is to be opened at the predetermined position toward which the packer plate is being moved through the electric clutch by said reducer, the said body being provided with a lateral door opening with spaced jambs, a door movable to and from a position between such jambs and slidable longitudinally of the body, and upper and lower rails for guiding movement of the door, said rails having forward portions respectively turned inwardly for guiding door movment to and from the door position between said jambs.

8. A refuse truck body having a side wall provided in a forward portion with a loading door opening and Vhaving upright reenforcing members at opposite sides of the opening, a door having a closed position in which it is fitted between said upright reenforcing members and having an open vposition in Iwhich the door is offset longitudinally of the body at the rear of the loading door opening, upper guide track means having portions directed inwardly adjacent the respective reenforcing members at opposite sides of the door opening, the door having supporting means guided on the track means and adapted to be guided by the inwardly extending portions of the track in movement to and from its closed position, the said track means including portions extending rearwardly upon which said supporting means rides in the movement of the door to and from its open position.

9. The device of claim 8 in further combination with a packer plate reciprocable within the body and means for packer plate actuation, together with a control for said last mentioned means actuated by a door lock to permit packer plate operation when the door is closed and to preclude packer plate operation when the door is open.

10. The device of claim 9 in further combination with a door lock comprising a rock shaft rotatably mounted on the body at the rear of the loading door opening and within the path of door opening movement, an arm connected with the rock shaft and movable between a retracted position across which the door moves in opening and an operative position in which said arm overlies the closed door, and switch means comprising the aforesaid control and having an actuator operatively disposed to be operated in the oscillation of said rock shaft and arm.

11. The device of claim 8 in which the door comprises a sheet metal plate with outwardly flaring side margins, said door reenforcng members at opposite sides of the door opening having oppositely divergently Haring side surfaces to which respective door margins are complementary, the door seating against the surfaces of said members in closed door position.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,136,279 Savery Apr. 20, 1915 2,097,909 Atz Nov. 2, 1937 2,166,846 McCalley July 18, 1939y 2,258,988 LeLaurin Oct. 14, 1941 2,357,517 Burdick et al. Sept. 5, 1944 2,630,928 IVIcCOmbS Mar. l0, 1953 2,635,771 Black Apr. 21, 1953 2,726,776 Myers Dec. 13, 1955 2,777,588 Williams Jan. 15, 1957' 2,808,158 Gilleoy Oc-t. 1, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS 539,513 France June 27, 1922 

